You may be cringing at the thought of the upcoming Winter School holidays, but don’t despair. The cooler weather needn’t mean that the kids are cooped up inside for a few weeks. Even if it’s not beach weather, there are loads of options to keep the whole family occupied and on a budget.

The school holidays are heaven for kids, but for mums and dads trying to keep the peace, it can be a challenge. Keep the kids busy so you can enjoy your downtime these school holidays with this list that will make sure you don’t hear the dreaded words, “I’m bored!”.

1. Have a crafty afternoon

Embrace the stacks of empty toilet rolls and egg cartons in the recycling bin and get crafty. Cover the dining table with newspaper and get out all of the glue, glitter, pipe cleaners and paints you can muster. It might end up messy so smocks and old clothes are a must, but letting the kids become completely absorbed by creativity can be just what the doctor ordered on a rainy afternoon.

It doesn’t have to be an expensive idea. You will find that water based, acrylic paints and other craft supplies can be purchased at Pialba Place for a reasonable price.

Some ideas to get the creative juices flowing:
* make a puppet theatre out of a spare cardboard box
* try decorating old photo frames with dry fusilli noodles
* make a toy guitar from a cereal box with elastic ribbon strings

2. Visit your local library

There’s nothing like a good book on an overcast afternoon. For a free afternoon out that will double up as a learning experience, your local library is a school holiday saviour. Settle into some bean bags in the kids section and sign the kids up as members. Another fun activity alongside this could include decorating their book bags. Just make sure you return your books on time!

3. Build a cubby house

During the school holidays, the lounge room is inevitably kid territory. If your kids are glued to the telly or can’t put down the iPad, encourage them to do something more creative by building a cubby house with cushions, sheets and blankets.

4. Visit the aquarium

ReefWorld Aquarium Hervey Bay is a lovely, family-friendly day out that will introduce the kids to some of the incredible marine life in the Hervey Bay region. Sitting on the foreshore overlooking the bay, ReefWorld is a completely natural aquarium and a more personalised experience than some of the big name aquariums in major cities.

The tanks are completely lit by sunlight, meaning the aquarium has more of an organic, community feel, where kids can get up close and personal with some of the most amazing marine characters the East Coast has to offer, from tropical fish, to crabs and even sharks. Visitors are encouraged to participate in interactive, hands on experiences, from feeding sharks to petting turtles.

5. Go fishing

If your trip to the aquarium wasn’t enough, take a stroll on one of the small jetties along Hervey Bay’s Esplanade to catch garfish, whiting, bream, and flathead. If you’re lucky, you might even catch a big fish like like Trevally or Blue Fin Tuna. Even if you don’t catch anything, the kids will have a great time learning to safely cast a line. Don’t forget your spray jackets.

6. Rug up and plan an outdoorsy day

Lace up your boots, grab a scarf and a jacket, and get the family out into the fresh air. Without worrying about dehydration and heat rash, a day out in the mild cool of an Aussie winter day can actually be very pleasant. In fact, with winter days often around 23-25 degrees Celsius in Queensland, it’s the perfect time to enjoy the outdoors. Residents of Hervey Bay are blessed with miles and miles of parkland, bike paths and sandy beaches overlooking the gorgeous bay. Stroll along the esplanade or even bring your bikes to take in new piers, parks and playgrounds. Stop for fish and chips, and enjoy a hearty lunch in the great outdoors.

7. Picnic in the Botanical Gardens

Pack a good book, a deck of cards and a thermos of hot chocolate for a picnic in the winter sunshine at the Botanical Gardens for a relaxing afternoon. Let the kids explore the beautiful gardens and make sure you don’t miss the tranquil Chinese area. While you stop by the pond to meet the turtles and fish, encourage the kids to draw some pictures of the plants that they see to give you a quiet moment to enjoy your book.

8. Get stuck into the garden

If the kids are going to be home for a few weeks, why not put them to work! Have them join you doing some general gardening, or take on a new project like planting a veggie patch. The kids will love knowing that they were involved in bringing the new plants to life, and it might even encourage them to eat their vegetables.
With these ideas, the winter school holidays don’t need to be spent indoors. Enjoy everything that the Hervey Bay region has to offer and the kids won’t have time to get bored!